Academics
Bowdoin College is a small college in Brunswick, Maine, with faculty who are “passionate about their research and distributing their knowledge to hardworking students.” Professors here “are absolutely fantastic” and “teach every class—[no teaching assistants].” They are “brilliant at leading discussions and pushing students to think deeper and, delightfully, stranger [in order] to consider new possibilities off of well-worn paths.” Bowdoin’s undergraduates also love the “small class sizes and the level of intimacy” they have access to with faculty members. This isn’t a school for slackers. Says one student: “I soon learned that in order to do well here, you must give all your time and effort. There is no grade inflation at this institution.” Students sum up their academics as “highly demanding but also highly rewarding.” Bowdoin provides lots of hands-on opportunities, especially in environmental science, with instructors taking advantage of the college’s coastal location. Other immersive courses that some describe as “engaging and challenging in the best possible way” include United Nations and Supreme Court simulations. Although students at Bowdoin “like to stay busy,” they are never bored.
Student Body
Bowdoin attracts “students who are excited to learn, challenge themselves and others, and engage beyond what is expected.” The college “carries thirty-one varsity sports teams,” which “leads to a large proportion of the student body being comprised of athletes” and “an increased sense of camaraderie between athletes and a large number of students that attend sporting events.” The stereotypical divide between so-called nerds and jocks isn’t present here: “Those same athletes might later converse about quantum physics and Russian literature in the dining hall.” Bowdoin students “do it all when it comes to academics, athletics, and socializing.” One student says, “the student body is thoughtful, outgoing, and dedicated, finding a … balance between life and work.” Students describe their peers as being “often genuinely humble and friendly,” “preppy,” and “brilliant.” Many are “drawn to Bowdoin because of the natural beauty of Maine, … and nature definitely influences campus culture and what students do in their free time.”
Campus Life
You’d be forgiven for mistaking Bowdoin’s cafeterias for Parisian cafés. “Every meal … is a [planned] social event,” and it’s “not abnormal for a meal to last two hours because you’re deep in conversation with someone.” And then there’s the food: “Meals in the dining hall tend to be the centerpiece of social life during the week—it’s fun to camp out [there].” Another student emphasizes that “every meal is significant because students socialize, expand their community, and engage with others.” However, mealtimes buffer the demands of coursework, with students “spend[ing] the majority of their time doing schoolwork.” On weekends, you’ll find “a lot of outdoorsy people … kayaking, hiking,” or camping in nearby Acadia National Park. In the winter, “a portion of the quad [is even transformed into] a makeshift ice rink.”
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